The Aug 31 tattoo marathon starts at 9am and will run until midnight. No appointments, walk ins only, featuring $200 designs picked from “The Big Sheet” which features Charlie’s “Something for Everyone” art. Guest artists will work 2-3 hours each, no schedule will be posted. Customers coming in will have 8 artists working at a time to choose from, first come first serve, a tribute to the way shops used to operate.

Dubbed “Our Founder” by the new tattoo world, Goodtime Charlie’s career started in 1955 at the age of 15, tattooing out of the back of his car utilizing the hand poke method. Unfamiliar with the use of stencils and standard designs, Charlie’s works of art began with the practice of being original and hand drawn.

In 1975, fresh off The Pike in Long Beach, CA., Goodtime Charlie opened his first namesake shop in East Los Angeles, CA. It was here Charlie developed the first commercial single needle tattoo technique. Inspired by prison tattoos, he had refined their techniques, creating a new style in the world of tattooing, which has given birth to the popular photorealism trend we see today.

Today he operates “Goodtime Charlie’s End of the Trail” located in Modesto, CA, which is where he, his son, grandson and featured artist Mario Cordova work from today. Part tattoo shop, part tattoo flash museum, this tattoo mecca worthy establishment houses the largest and most extensive catalog of documented tattoo flash. featuring designs from artists all over the world.

Goodtime Charlie’s legacy, along with his colleague, the iconic Jack Rudy, will soon be told via a beautiful coffee table book entitled, “Tattoo Man,” which is set to be released this year. “Tattoo Man” tells the tales from three namesake shops and those who’ve worked there, from 1975 to present. Many of the guest artists featured at the Modesto event are in the book and documentary, including Corey Miller, Chuey Quintanar and Antonio Mejia, among many others. See next page for list of guest artists and their instagram pages.

Limited amount of books will be on site for sale, along with some of the merchandise line that will be officially launching in the fall.

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Middagh Goodwin LIVES Music. He has been booking and promoting Music, Art and Comedy for years in the Central Valley. He ran the award winning Plea for Peace Center in Stockton for 5 Years and has booked bands from A-Z. Middagh is beginning 2016 with a new position at the Gallo Center for the Arts and celebrating Beat Happy! Music's 30th Anniversary. Read the MAMAView every month and a the Needle Drop 52 Records 52 Weeks.